Dylan O'Brien Credits Director's Permission for Authentic Gay Role in 'Twinless'
Actor Dylan O'Brien has opened up about the crucial support he received while playing a gay character in the film 'Twinless', emphasizing that being granted "permission" by writer-director and co-star James Sweeney was instrumental in achieving an authentic portrayal. According to reports from Deadline, O'Brien plays twin brothers Roman and Rocky in the movie, with Rocky identifying as gay, and the actor praised Sweeney for encouraging him to fully embrace the role despite being heterosexual.
Guidance from a Trusted Source
In a recent interview, Sweeney explained his approach to directing O'Brien, highlighting the importance of fluidity in masculinity and femininity for the character. "In terms of him playing queer - I'll take credit for giving him permission and pushing him in a direction to be fluid with the masculinity and femininity," Sweeney said. He noted that many straight actors avoid leaning into such nuances out of fear of public backlash, often opting to play themselves instead. "I don't mean that as a denigration to other straight actors, but I felt for Rocky to be attracted to Dennis, he would need to be comfortable with both masculinity and femininity, in my experience of dating," Sweeney added, as quoted by Deadline.
O'Brien echoed these sentiments, stressing how Sweeney's trust and guidance shaped his performance. "Permission goes a long way," O'Brien stated. "James is a gay man, and coming from a place I could trust. We had a similar take on straight actors playing gay parts, especially in recent years: you started seeing straight actors playing a queer role completely straight. It started to feel inauthentic. It was nice to have his insight, support, and calibration. He'd be like, 'Go crazy on this one. We can dial it back if it doesn't feel real.'"
Film Premiere and Queer Representation
'Twinless', which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival last year and is now available for streaming on Hulu, follows the story of Dennis (played by Sweeney) and Roman (played by O'Brien). The two characters form a friendship after meeting in a bereavement support group for twins, and as they bond over shared loss, hidden truths and emotional complexities begin to strain their relationship.
Following the film's debut, Sweeney spoke to Deadline about his approach to portraying queer characters in a grounded and relatable manner. "I don't necessarily approach my work in the sense of I'm trying to make a queer protagonist's struggles relatable. It's, I guess, more instinctual than that," Sweeney said. "I'm happy if it in any way, I guess I find there's always universality in specificity, and anytime we can normalize queer characters as just going through the same struggles that we all deal with, whether that's loneliness, whether that's rejection... I think that just helps build empathy. I think that's one of the most powerful things of storytelling, is the ability to put yourself in somebody else's shoes," as quoted by Deadline.
Impact on Authentic Storytelling
The collaboration between O'Brien and Sweeney underscores a broader conversation in the entertainment industry about authentic representation and the role of guidance in acting. Key points from their discussion include:
- Trust and Permission: O'Brien highlighted how Sweeney's trust allowed him to explore the character without hesitation, leading to a more genuine performance.
- Fluidity in Portrayal: Sweeney emphasized the need for straight actors to embrace both masculine and feminine traits when playing gay roles to avoid inauthenticity.
- Normalizing Queer Experiences: Both actor and director aim to present queer characters as individuals facing universal human struggles, thereby fostering empathy among audiences.
This dialogue not only sheds light on the creative process behind 'Twinless' but also contributes to ongoing efforts to improve LGBTQ representation in cinema, making stories more inclusive and resonant for viewers worldwide.
